Idicator



(No Model.)

' 3 Sheets-#Sheet 1.` W. A. TURNER.

STATION INDICATOR. K

' Patented Got. 8, w95.

mwa: I *a Wfl( f Uff/ l (No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet W. A. TURNER.

STATON INDICATOR.

Patented 0t.8,1895.

Ziff wwf INU Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet f W A ATURNER STATION INDICATOR.

. Amuexoc. Wig/,M a LA Tiflilllrilti A. TU OF SAN FRANCISCG, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR r1"() Tillt AMFBEGAN lNDlCATOR COMPANY, F SAME PACE.

STATiONNDlCTQR.

' `SPECIXEIICAIIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 547,592, dated ctober 8, 1895.

Application had une. is, 1890. sehn No. 344,371. on wenn To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. TURNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco,

State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street or Station Indicators; and I do hereby declare that'the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same.

xo My invention relates to street or station indicators, and more particularly to the'box or case in which the indications are displayed and to the mechanism contained in or-by said box for producing these indications in their proper sequence. The general features ofthe invention are shown in Letters Patent No. 394,741, granted ,to me December 18, 1888, in which is described a box containing a double series of cards, each card bearing an indicazo tion and having sufficient advertising space. These cards, arranged end to end in the box, are moved transverseiyin opposite directions, while the two series are pressed to frontend rear, respectively, so that the space of acard drawn from the face of one series to the face of the other is supplied by a card drawn from the back of theother series. Two cards are thus displayed at once, giving a double advertising-space- To this extent the present 3e invention and that shown in the patent referred to are similar.

My present improvements relate to the construction of the box, to the shape, arrangement, and manner of holding the cards, and

to the mechanism for accomplishing the transverse and longitudinal' movements of the cards. To avoid confusion of terms, it should he stated that by the transverse movement ofthe cards I mean their movement across the 4o face of the box when set at one end ofthe car which carries the indicator. By the lonfritndinal movement I refer to the moving of each series of cards backward or forward. Thebox and its mechanism herein described 4:5 are particularly adapted to that form or type of indicators in which the rotation of the car axle is the primary motive power. in. my patent above referred to the devices for transferring the indicatingcard were placed below the car and were connected by iexlble cords 5o to the indicatingbox. In the present invention it is only necessary to gear a single shaft from the car-axle to the indicatingbox, and to.connect that shaft to mechanism for operating the cards, all of which 'mechanism is|55 contained in the -box itself. It should be stated, however, that the shaft from which the movement of the transferring devices is derived must, in Order to give them the required motion, rotate always in thc same di- 6o rection-that is, although its motion maybe intermittent, it is a rotary shaft as distin guished vfrom an oscillating shaft.

For a full and complete understanding of my invention reference is made to the folvlowing detailed description, and to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a rear elevation. Fig; 2- is a horizontal cross-section on line to a', Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section on line y y, 7o Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail plan View showing the operation of the gripper arms and wings. Fig. 31 is a transverse section on line a: n of Fig. 3. Fig. t is a vertical longitu linal section. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan partly broken 75 away. Fig. G is a detail plan of the hinged bracket and lever. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective of'the same. Fig'S is a detail perspective of the hinged bracket, showing-its attachment to the frame. Fig. 9 repilesents 8o the hinged bracket separately. Fig. l0 shows the engagement'of the gripper and cards. y The box A is of rectangular shape, and is separated by a horizontal partition or false bottom czinto two compartments, the upper vand largerto hold the two serles of cardsB @and the'lower and smaller to contain the mechanism through which the cards are moved. The two series of cards rest upon the partition a, with their inner ends in proxim- 9o ity, Fig. 2, but separated by an obliqnely-set lug b, Fig. 2, which, in connection with oblique strips c c at the ends of the box, causes the cards to. successively overlap cto a slight` extent in order to facilitate the seizing of each card by the gripper. 'The ends of the cards are also slightly inclined from the perpendicular, Fig. 1, so as to cause them to slide erated primarily past one another without interference should they come in contact. I have, however, provided against such contact;l by formingr the lug b with rounded ends b', 4Fig:A il, which act as guides to carry each card past the edge of the card in the other series. The cards thus mounted in the box are, as in my for|nerpatcnt, transferred from side to side by a pairof grippers, one of which takes a card from the front of one series, while the other takes tho last card from the rear of the other series. In my patent these grippcrs were connected by a system of cords und pulleys, so as to be moved simultaneously in opposite direc tions, effecting the simultaneous transfer of two cards. Under favorable conditions this manner of connecting the grippcrs operates with reasonable accuracy; but there is a dccided objection to it from the fact that the cords or wires are liable to stretch. In such a case the indicating-cards are not pulled to their proper places and become jammed in the box. A further objection is the complicated nature of the automatic mechanism required to operate the devices shown in my former patent in ense it is desired to operate them automatically. In my present invention I obviate these difticulties by using positivelyacting connections throughout the apparatus, both between the grippers and the device which directly controls them and also between such device and the 'automatic mechanism which operates the whole apparatus. In my present invention both grippers move in the same direction, and only one card is transferred at a time, as will. be understood by rcf erence to Figf2. These grippers, which will be more fully hereinafter dcscribed,`are op by a sprocketchain D through intermediate connections. This chain is carried by sprocket-pulleys il d', the former of which is secured to a shaft e, projecting through the box. The shaft may bc rotated in any desired manner, according to the class of indicator with which my box is used. Ihave,howc ver, indicated a pair of mitengcars and a shaftf, which may be supposed to derive an intermittent rotation at proper times from the car-axle. E

The sprocket-pullcy il is mounted upon a pin d2, journaled at the free end of a swim;- ing arm Ehpivoted upon the shaft c, just aboveithc bottoinot' the box, Fitz. 4. A spurpinion g, secured upon 'the pin it and above the sprocket-wheel, engages with a traveling rack F, having a guideway (l secured to or formed with it. A roller 71. on thepin cl2 bears upon the downward flange ot' the guideway, and thusthc movement of the sprocl etw}1cc|s and of the pin (Z2 will cause the rack and guide to travel until the roller reacties the curved end of the guide andtravels around it, when thc arn'i E on tho pinion will be swung. to the other side of the rack, which will then travel back, and this reciprocating movement ol the raelr and guide will he carried on without changing: the direction of rotation of tho sprockets, 'ihe connection of the rack and guide with the grippcrs is shown in Figs. 2, 3, and Jn The guideway in secured to a slid ing plate I, the ends of which are turned up and bent over the edges of the partition a, which. are formed into guides fh-Figi'. 3, and by means of which the movingr rack and guideway are supported. |The grippale Il' J', Fig. 2, are secured to opposite ends o! the plate I and move with it. "l'heyare constructed substantially as in my patent referred to, with hooked ends, and, boing,y springe, have a constant tendency inward, so that they wi1lautomaticallyseine and retain the edges of the cards. As both grippers move in the same direction, only one card at 'a time is moved, as in Fig. 2, the other gripper running,r free nn, til it; engages with the rear card ot the other series, which it transfers across in the rotor: Stroke. It nowrcmainstoo erihethenicans for giving whatI have terme thctlongitndi nal movement to each ser of cards, the purpose of which is to move one series forward, so as to bring its front card into position to be seized by the front gripper J, and the other series backward to cause its rear card to be seized Vby the rear gripperJ Below and to the false bottom are pivoted, at the front and rear, respectively, two levers K 11C', the freorends this of which project, into the path of a cam i, secured to the gnideway G, Fig. 4. The other end of each loyer has a slot m, with which engages a pian, carried upon one wing,y o ot' a bracket L, Fig. 9. Slots p areformed n the false bottom, through which the other wings o' of the brackets project into the upper compartment of the box in front of the series ot' cards Il and in rear of the series C, Fig. 2. The brackets are hinged to the guiderails of the false bottom previously described, Figs. 6 and 7. Then the free cud offthc lever is struck by the cam, the slotted end is thrown inward and the wing o is forced `against: the series of cards, pressing them inward.Y The wing is thrown hack against` the rail when it is struck bythe succeeding card drawn by the gripper J. It thus` keeps the cards ypressed inward while the gripper is going free, as illustrated in con- ICO lio

nrction with the gripperJ in Fig. I have also provided inelincs g q' at thc sides of the box and at top and bottom to deflect the 'end of the card inward, as shown in Fig. 2. The card is thus held at both ends, giving a clear space for the next card to pass across the face.

I have shown in Fig. 4, the opaqucplate or strip described in my former patent referred to, which covers the upper portion of one side of the closed front of the box and conceals the name of the street or station carried by the outer card in the series at that side ot the box. In using springgrippcrs which have a constant tendencyim arti to insure the cnand thus positively pull two cards (the second and third) at once. This I guard against'by forming a bead, swell, or projection, as rr,'on the gripper, which will 'bear on the face of the displaced card 'and preventthe hook from swingingin far enough to seize the third card. The cards are preferably bound at the edges with metal strips, as shown at s, and when jeetion fr need be only equal to or very little in excess of the thickness of the metal strip. 0f course such a bead or projection might be formed separately upon each card and accomplish the same result; but considerations of economy would always make it preferableto have such projection on the gripper. The same result may be accomplished by forming a projection on the opposite end of the gripper, which on the return of the gripper for a new card would strike the edge of thedisplaced card and pull it back into its proper position.

Having thus described niy invention, I claim 4l. In a street or station indicator, the corn-v bination with a box or case, of two seriesof cards arranged therein, grippers for transferr-ing cards from each series to the other, a shaft having movement in a constant direction of -rotation, and connections substantially as described between said shaft and said grippe-rs.

2. In a street or station indicator the cernbinaton of a box or ease, two series of cards .arranged therein, grippers at the front and rear ofthe box moving together and in the .saine direction for transferring cards singly.

and successively troni each seriesto'tiie other and means for moving the grippers.

il. in a street or station indicator, the coin-k the other, and positively operated presser.

wings for forcing one series of cards tothe front, and the other to the rear ot" the box,

subst:nitially as and for the purposes set forth.

5.- In a street or station indicator, the combination with a box or case, of a series of cards arranged in two series end to end,the ends of such cards being inclined from the perpendicular, and grippers for transferring cards from each series to the other, substantially as set forth. 6. In a street or station indicator, the cornbination with the cards arranged in two se ries, and with grippers for transferring the cards of each series to the other, of an obliquely arranged separating lug between the series having rounded or inclined ends, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a street or station indicator, the combination with a box or case, and with a rotary shaft of cards arranged in the case in two series edge to edge, and a pair of grippersr moving together and in the same direction for alternately transferring a card from the front of one series and from the rear of the other, substantially as described.

8. In a street or station indicator, the conibination of a box containing two series of cards arranged substantially as described, a

pair of gripper's for transferring the cards from each series to 'the other, a reciprocating rack connected to said grippers, and an oscil lating pinion having an unchanging direction of rotation and engaging alternately with opposite sides of said rack, substantially as set 9. In a street or station indicator, the conibination of a box containing two series of cards arranged substantially asA described, a pair of grippers for transferring the cards from cach serios to the other, a reciprocating rack and guide way having curved ends, and connected to said grippers, and an oscillating pinion engaging with opposite sides of said rack alternately and having an unchanging direction of rotation, substantially as described.

lO. The combination, to operate a station indicator, with a shaft carrying a sprocket wheel, a pivoted arm, carrying at its free end a sprocket pulley, pinion, and| guide roller, of the reciprocating rack, having a -guide way for saidroller, substantially as described.

ll. The combination with a box or case containing two series of cards arranged substantiallyas deseribed,of hinged wing or bracket for moving each series of cards,a pivoted lever connected to each bracket, and a reciprocating cam for striking 'said .levers and operating such brackets alternately, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

12. The combination, in a station indicator, of two series of cards; grppers for transtec (ring the cards of each series successively to the other; a reciprocating rack for operating said grippers; a hinged bracket or wing acting on each series of cards to press thorn respectively forward and backward; a pivoted lever connected to each bracket; and a cam traveling with said rack for operating said lcvers and brackets, subsimitiiy mi :Linkaci-Umd f rioiimily displaced, whereby the ongagomoni and shown. riot" smid grppozr. with two cordoni; once is lr'o :o

13. in a station indicator, the combination vented, substantially' as doooribed.

with a, series of cards piaoeci edge io edgosubsfoutially as described, oi a pair of gripper?,

for transferring the cards from @zich series to Xiiiiosses:

the other series, such grippors being provided LEW. B. HARRIS,

with projections forrbeal'ing on a card auch L. W, SEELY. 

